LDoc review
A focused, open-source generator for Lua API docs, with Markdown and CI support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
LDoc turns Lua source comments into HTML API documentation, and it can also process C/C++ extension source. Its LuaDoc-style tags cover API elements such as modules, functions, parameters, and return values. That makes it a focused option for teams maintaining Lua libraries or applications that need reference material kept alongside code. It is open source and available for self-hosted use, with command-line operation rather than a hosted subscription product. Teams documenting a broader mix of programming languages should look at a generator with wider language coverage.
The documentation can combine API references with Markdown-formatted comments, documentation topics, readme files, and source examples. LDoc can prettify example code and link examples to API documentation, so projects can bring explanatory material and reference pages together in the generated site. The output format listed is HTML, which suits teams publishing browsable documentation but is limiting if a project needs other generated formats. Its center of gravity remains API documentation from Lua and extension sources rather than a general-purpose documentation platform.
For build workflows, LDoc can run in Docker or through a GitHub Actions workflow, and CI/CD integration is supported. That gives teams a route to generate docs as part of a code workflow without relying on a hosted service. The listed support channel is documentation, so organizations that need a broader support arrangement may want to evaluate alternatives. LDoc fits solo contributors through larger organizations when the core requirement is Lua-focused API reference generation; it is less suitable for teams seeking a multi-language generator, non-HTML output, or a managed documentation service.
LDoc pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Generates HTML API references from Lua comments and C extension source
- Combines API docs with Markdown pages, readmes, and source examples
- Runs in Docker or GitHub Actions for documentation builds
- Where it doesn't
- Language support centers on Lua and C/C++ extension source
- HTML is the listed output format
- Command-line workflow may not suit teams seeking a hosted documentation service
LDoc fact sheet, pricing and score →
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